LovelyMissAries
Does the 9 of Cups always indicate selfishness? I used to love that card but ever since I read it indicates selfishness, I'm weary of it when it appears and that's always the first thing that pops in my mind.
You're reading that body language wrong. Imagine it's your birthday. You don't expect anything. You walk into your favorite bar, and there is the proprietor, a friend. He's put up a big banner saying "Happy Birthday!" and there's all your favorite foods, and all his best goblets set out on the bar behind him, along with open bottles of your favorite wine.Starlight09 said:So in the RWS image, the man's arms are folded across his chest and that closed off body language always reminds me of negative traits.
Thirteen said:You're reading that body language wrong. Imagine it's your birthday. You don't expect anything. You walk into your favorite bar, and there is the proprietor, a friend. He's put up a big banner saying "Happy Birthday!" and there's all your favorite foods, and all his best goblets set out on the bar behind him, along with open bottles of your favorite wine.
You gasp, "For me?"
And he, arms crossed, head up, and a smug, proud smile on his face says, "you thought I was going to forget it was your birthday and let you celebrate alone? Hah!" And at that moment all your friends start spilling in with gifts and well-wishes, and the bartender stands there, arms folded, grinning.
That isn't the body language of being "closed off" it's the body language of someone who's accomplished something, surprised someone, done something cool, like a genie who's just granted a wish. You can almost see him nodding his head over those folded arms and saying, "Done!" (Didn't you ever watch "I dream of Jeanie?" She folded her arms just like that as she nodded her head and granted a wish).
The smug expression makes all the difference. Crossed arms with a frown are "cutting off." Crossed arms with a smug look and cups behind one, that's pride in an achievement--the genie granting a wish.
Thirteen said:That isn't the body language of being "closed off" it's the body language of someone who's accomplished something, surprised someone, done something cool, like a genie who's just granted a wish. You can almost see him nodding his head over those folded arms and saying, "Done!" (Didn't you ever watch "I dream of Jeanie?" She folded her arms just like that as she nodded her head and granted a wish).
The smug expression makes all the difference. Crossed arms with a frown are "cutting off." Crossed arms with a smug look and cups behind one, that's pride in an achievement--the genie granting a wish.
Starlight09 said:I actually derived the "selfish" meaning from a few members here on Aeclectic during a card discussion. Although I already had my meanings for my cards, I'm always looking for new ones. After thinking about it, I could see how they interpreted "selfishness" from that card. I didn't mean for it to stick so strongly, but it did.
I always presumed he'd set them up in order to play host. As you say, he's got his ducks in a row. He's prepared for the party. While ill-aspected this card can certainly indicate indulgence (including in wine), I doubt he's going to drink all nine cups himself. This is a man who, to me, takes pride in being able to offer the best to his friends, and feels a sense of accomplishment in watching them enjoying such food and drink as much as he does.Starlight09 said:It reminded me of selfishness because there he is all alone with 9 Cups and not offering any to anybody.
Um, Santa Claus is overweight an happy and I don't think we'd call him selfish There are images of Buddha that show him as overweight and happy. Heck, my beloved grandmother was a big, overweight woman, happy. When she had people over for dinner, she cooked all day long, then spent all night going to and from the kitchen serving them, waiting on them hand and foot--even though everyone would urge her to "sit! sit!" She always refused, delighting more in watching us indulge then indulging herself.He's overweight and happy
Thirteen said:I've never heard it as referring to selfishness. Where did you see that?
Now, all cards can be negative and perhaps one of the negatives of 9/Cups is not only over-indulgence (a selfish thing) but being selfish. But if the card is not ill-aspected, then I think it's a misinterpretation to see it as "selfish." It may indicate a person becoming the center of attention, being the favorite for a moment in time, but that doesn't equate to selfishness. Especially as I don't think anyone outside, perhaps of a baby or someone celebrating a birthday gets that kind of attention for nothing.
Like all the 9's, there is an element in the 9/Cups of everything coming back to the person who put it out into the world. So, 9/Swords--all ideas and thoughts seem to come back at once to the person and the person ends up in the nightmarish position of having to deal with them all at once, think them all though. 9/Wands, all the creations the person put out into the world come back and the person feels that they alone can complete and protect them. 9/Pents, all the little investments and work and effort put out by the person pays off and, at last, they can buy that little retreat.
9/Cups, all the emotion you gave out to others comes back and YOU are celebrated, loved, indulged. This isn't "selfishness" but a reward for being selfless. For giving to others. The show of affection has been earned, and I think anyone getting this card can indulge in it without feeling that they're being selfish in taking it all for themselves rather than sharing it. That, at least, is how I would read it if it's not ill-aspected.
"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make...."